SHEET CANING

What is it? Like the name suggests, the cane comes pre-woven in sheets. It is also called "pressed" cane because of the way it is installed- by pressing the sheet of cane into the grove in the wood. While the sheet cane is pre-woven, it still has its share of process. The old cane and spline must be extracted by hand tools and the grove thoroughly cleaned before the new cane is stretched, attached, and secured.

MATERIAL: Cane is produced from the peeled-off bark of rattan which naturally grows in Southeast Asia. The strips of bark are cut into cane strips of uniform width and depth, referred to as peel. These strips are then woven together in a continuous sheet of cane- the horizontal and vertical strips by antique weaving machines and diagonal strips by hand.

COLOR: When the cane is brand new it is a light blond color and will darken with age and oxidation to a honey color. Information on color matching cane CLICK HERE

Sheet Caning Weaves and Options

Chairs that are made to accept sheets of cane offer the owner many options for sizes and patterns of cane that are not available with hand cane chairs. Finished samples are available to choose from when dropping off your chair.

Traditional Caning Pattern

The traditional caning pattern is made to mimic the traditional hand caning pattern. With this weave there are 6 weave/cane size options to choose from. Each is priced individually by size of weave and size of panel that needs replacement. Standard size is best bet for seat strength- there is a reason it is the most popular weave!

Close Weave

Close Weave caning has traditionally been used on Victorian Era and Heywood Wakefield wicker furniture where the seat and/or back portion is made of wood with a close weave sheet cane panel. This allows the seat to blend well with the ornate wicker and also makes it easy to replace with fresh cane without involving the weave of the whole chair. Best used in round or ovoid seats. Size options available: 2

Swedish / Danish Modern

The Swedish, or Danish, Modern weave is a more modern and angular option for sheet cane panels. Not suggested for usage in seats as the pattern is more sparse and open than the traditional caning patterns, thus less supportive for the weight of the sitter.Size options available: 2

Radio Net

The Radio Net pattern is another modern weave option and gets its' name from the weave pattern that traditionally covered radio speakers. Also not suggested for seats.

Size options available: 2

Paper Cane

Paper Cane is available in the Traditional, Swedish Modern, and Radio Net patterns. Paper cane is synthetic, comparable in strength to natural cane, but is not for use on seats. It has a finished front and back and is mostly used on large chair arm and back panels and barrel chairs where both sides of the cane is exposed. Unlike natural cane, Paper Cane will not darken with age. Any color variation must come from post installation finishes.

Floating Medallions, Double Caning

Floating medallions are found on chair backs, are inserted into the middle of the cane panel, and are supported entirely by the cane. These chair backs are also Double Caned. There is a finished panel on both the front and the back.

Wood Rail Attachment / No Spline

Sheet caning that attaches to the chair/item by wooden frame pieces that sandwich the cane to the structure. I do not see many of these special attachments. It seems to mostly have been used during the early 1900s. This is a tricky technique and there is an extra charge.

5 chairs worth of seats in one easy trip!

Transportation Tip:

Some modern chairs have removable seats or backs. Generally there are 2-4 screws holding the panels to the frame - just bring in the ones that need done and save yourself the headache of transporting whole or multiple chairs!

Most often these are mixed material chairs such as Breuer's, rod iron chairs with wood seats, and even some all wood chairs.

A Selection of Sheet Cane Before + Afters:

Breuer's "Cesca" and Cesca-like

Marcel Breuer was Bauhaus trained and designed the Cesca chair in 1928. This is a very important chair in the history of both furniture and modern design. These chairs are widely loved, used for lifetimes, and handed down. They come in beech, brown, and piano black and are still produced today. They are also produced with Hand Caning.

Heywood Wakefield

Regency

Mid-century and modern

Edward Wormley for Dunbar

Close Weave

Swedish Modern Weave

Wheel Chairs

Canoe Seats

Canoe seats must be detached from the canoe to brought in for re-caning. This is an excellent time to asses any condition issues of the seat- repairs to the wood and finish should be completed before new cane goes in.

Radiator Covers

High Chairs

Arts and Crafts

Carved Chairs

Barley Twist

Tables

Various Side Chairs

Victorian and turn of the century

Bentwood

Thonet

Modern day Thonet label from the 1980s

Michael Thonet was the father of bentwood furniture and developed world-wide distribution unheard of before. The pieces could be produced in Austria, shipped, and assembled at their final destination anywhere in the world. The designs were revolutionary- first produced in 1853 and Thonet factories still in production today. Authentic Thonet pieces are well marked- usually stamped right into the wood and paper labels if they have stayed intact . Many companies have copied and used his techniques- even today.